CSA's 47th AGM begins in Barbados

The Caribbean Shipping Association's 47th annual general meeting, conference and exhibition got under way yesterday at the Barbados Hilton. During the opening proceedings, chief executive officer of Barbados Port Inc and president of the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), David Jean Marie expressed the genuine sadness of the CSA at the effects of the recent hurricanes on the Caribbean community, and he commiserated with those who could not make it to the conference due to the devastation. The CSA has provided a facility for members to contribute financial support to the hurricane relief, which the CSA will match up to US$10,000.

Also in keeping with the spirit of cooperation of the CSA, the president announced that the association had brokered a partnership with the Central American Commission on Maritime Transport (COCATRAM) for collaboration between the organisations.

The discussions with COCATRAM commenced formally during the mid-year conference in CuraÁao and culminated yesterday with the signing of a memorandum of cooperation. This set the stage for information sharing, lobbying, and interventions in training between CSA membership and port states in countries such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.

The CSA recognises COCATRAM as a strategic hemispheric partner, whose members operate contiguous to its ports and borders in the Caribbean. The two associations share customers, some customs practices, aspirations, a global supply chain, and even challenges.

In his remarks, Jean Marie said: "I believe that these commonalties of interest provide a platform for dialogue that will augur well for our mutual advancement. This partnership is indeed critical to the presentation of the region's maritime space as unified and working towards a common development purpose."

The conference runs from October 9-11. Marpol Implementation and cybercrime in the shipping industry are high on the agenda, as well as a review of the world economic outlook. Delegates will also visit the exhibition, which showcases related products, businesses, and services, and provides a great opportunity for networking and information sharing.